New Delhi. The Delhi High Court has asked the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to present its stand on the petition against the elections to be held later this month. The allegation is that this election is allegedly a violation of the Sports Code. Justice Purushendra Kumar Kaurav issued notice to the sports body and the Center on the plea by former Indian singles tennis player Somdev Devvarman and doubles player Purav Raja and said the elections would be subject to the outcome of the petition.
Refusing to stay the elections at this stage, Justice Purushendra also directed that the results of the elections to be held on September 28 will not be published. Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the petitioners, argued that AITA was conducting the elections in a ‘secret manner’ as ‘there was nothing on the website’. Seeking stay on the elections, the senior lawyer said that the conduct of AITA is a gross violation of the Sports Code and the judgments passed by the High Court.
The court asked the petitioner to implead the Returning Officer of Elections in the case and asked the respondent parties to file their replies. The court said that if the elections are later found to be in violation of the code, the elected officials will not be allowed to serve and an independent body can be appointed in their place.
Justice Purushendra said, “I am not imposing a stay. Elections require a lot of preparation. If the election process is conducted in violation of the extant instructions, the officials will be debarred from functioning. Then we will consider appointing someone as an ad-hoc (body)…that election will be cancelled.” The court ordered, ”In the meantime the election of respondent number two will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition. . The result of the election will not be published.” The next hearing of the case will be on October 14.
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